Success breeds…
It’s healthy to pursue success the results of success however, are often overlooked.
The Torah in the week’s Parsha describes Joseph as successful. It’s a unique description that isn’t used in the description of the many Righteous and Holy leaders of the Torah.
Ironically, he is called successful at the lowest points of his life. He is sold as a slave by his brothers, accused of rape, incarcerated in prison — and yet even before he rises to the second highest position of the Superpower nation of his times, he is described as a successful man.
Clearly, his success wasn’t in his achievements—those still lay ahead of him. Rather, it lay in his attitude and philosophy in life.
His Master, the Torah recounts, was palpably able to discern that Joseph was different than others pursuing success; that his conduct was permeated in an elevated manner. His goals for success weren’t solely motivated for his own self aggrandizement.
Perhaps this is the definition of success. The recognition that whatever we achieve is as a result of Hashem’s blessing — specifically channeled through us — in order for something even greater to happen. Our lives as a conduit.
Success breeds…. Our job in life is to fill in the blank and if we learn from Joseph, we can be sure that success breeds goodness, humility, compassion and yes, true success.
At the end of it all we realize, it’s not success that breeds, rather, the preceding attitude and acknowledgment of the source of our blessings that breeds success.
As we look to a New Year ahead, our goal should be for success — one that enhances ourselves, our families, our communities and the whole Am Yisrael — with a deep and humble acknowledgment of the source of all blessings — Hashem!
With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Yehuda & Dina Kantor
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